KYOT - New Format A Bummer!

[azradiomkt]

What do you see radio becoming? Are radio owners supposed to simply "turn off the lights on their way out" because the internet is here? Do you know what Pandora, Sirius/XM, pick any info-tainment website, an ipod, and EVERY radio station needs? Compelling content. They need to make a reason for people to come back. This used to be done by many radio outlets. While I believe radio can do a better job at making their content accessable via portabl devices, I see radio as having the same problems as their NEW competitors - Compelling Content. However - the state of radio HAS done a great job of killing compelling content by killing the creativity of entertainers on the radio. Kind of like a micro-manager killing creativity and painting themselves into a corner. Get a signal - put on the best content - and you have what you need. I wish it were this simple!

 

[DJ_Perry]

Do people REALLY want to hear the same 10-20 songs over and over and over again by the same 10-20 artists?

I'm afraid so. It's not a new concept. The term "Top 40" was coined by jukebox owners in the 1950s who had to keep replacing the same 40 records from being played over and over again. A Radio host then had a brilliant idea to play these 40 records on the radio (at a time when music was not common on radio). The rest is history. We can think back to whatever era and imagine that radio was so different from today, but the only difference is the music styles that continue to change. Top 40 stations have ALWAYS (and always will) rotate(d) the Top 10 every 2 hours.

 

[Jay F]

KYOT reminds me of KOAS/Las Vegas. They are a former smooth jazz station that switched to rhythmic oldies a year and a half ago. They also play lot's of slow songs, slower than you would hear on the typical AC these days. They have had consistent ratings and better demos than they did as a smooth jazz.

 

[Wildstyle K]

I enjoyed hearing "boom boom pow" by Black Eyed Peas quite a bit on a few stations last night into this morning. It was especially refreshing when I first heard it on 95.5 last night, and then a few others afterwards.

 

[Wildstyle K]

I like Everything but the girl "Missing" and "Point of no return", too. I still remember how shocked I was the first time I heard Debbie Deb come on 95.5 weeks ago. It was almost as shocking as hearing "Boom boom pow" and all those other things I mentioned, last night.

 

[DJ_Perry]

I like Everything but the girl "Missing"

Was it the Todd Terry mix or the original? Because they always played the original version

It was almost as shocking as hearing "Boom boom pow" and all those other things I mentioned, last night.

I just went thru their logs from last night...did not see this. Debbie Deb too? really?

 

[Wildstyle K]

Debbie Deb "when I hear music" was the first one I heard (about three weeks ago) after not tuning in to 95.5 for a while. "Boom Boom Pow" was played right before "Glamorous life" by Sheila E. last night around 11:00. I was on a long distance call with someone from the boards and we were both shocked about it when it happened.

 

[DJ_Perry]

Coincidently their "Ten PM hour" link is the one that doesn't work. I see that they also play Fergie, so BEP shouldn't be that surprising. It's one of those super mass appeal groups that all ages know and crossover into every format. In another post, I said KAJM is exclusive to Expose, Tom Tom Club, and many others. I am wrong again! Never thought KYOT would play those along with Shannon, Lisa Lisa, and others. They are obviously looking to grab the Latino KOOL listeners, since they will always stay vanilla, even with their motown and disco choices.

 

[Wildstyle K]

That's funny because normally it's the 12am hour that I can't get to work, most of the time on most stations. I know urban ac's use Alu Us "follow me" in mixshows (both WAMJ and WALR do, and I heard it's also done in Indiana) so maybe they'll one day play that on KYOT. Robin S. "Show me love" shouldn't be too far off either, especially if WAMJ uses it (and they don't even play all the stuff KYOT is touching now).

By the way, I'd expect "I gotta feeling" more than "boom boom pow".

Seems like Art Laboe would probably be more appropriate on 95.5 now, based on what's played.

 

[DJ_Perry]

Seems like Art Laboe would probably be more appropriate on 95.5 now, based on what's played.

Thats all Mega has. They don't wanna lose that show, even though I wouldn't miss it.

 

[DJ_Perry]

OK I hear it now....Debbie Deb. WOW. I can appreciate, but is this really considered R/B Oldies? Freestyle is a sub genre of Dance. Nothing soulful about it!

 

[Wildstyle K]

Debbie Deb, Planet Rock, Shannon...etc. and any urban freestyle sound are all accepted within the "urban / urban old school community". Once the line is crossed over into "latin freestyle", such as TKA, Lil Suzy...etc,  urbans tend to not include it. Never understood why it's like that. Debbie Deb is one of the "safest" freestyle artists to use out there, especially if the station using it is not strictly limited to the urban ac chart.

I don't think they're trying to be soulful... (at least, anymore now).

 

[Wildstyle K]

I do wonder how far they can go towards crossing that fine line between playing freestyle and booty bass. If they play Debbie Deb "when I hear music" and Black Eyed Peas "Boom boom pow", then what's stopping them from adding "My boo" by Ghost town Dj's, or even 69 Boyz "tootsie roll", especially amongst the other type of stuff they're playing?

Who came up with the idea that they were even trying to go "urban ac" in the first place to the point that everyone truly believed it? And what exactly are they trying to become? Didn't 103.9 KPTY kind of start off like this (oldies / old school dance start seeping in...etc.) before they finally evolved to the Party Station format?

 

[DJ_Perry]

what's stopping them from adding "My boo" by Ghost town Dj's, or even 69 Boyz "tootsie roll",

Stop It.

Didn't 103.9 KPTY kind of start off like this (oldies / old school dance start seeping in...etc.) before they finally evolved to the Party Station format?

103.9 started off Pure Old School when it was all automated (Steve in the desert) but they leaned very Urban with songs by Funkadelic, Whodini, Egyptian Lover and Grandmaster Flash. 95.5 won't go there. They still lean Adult and I believe they will stay there.

 

[XMportable]

Debbie Deb & a few freestyle hits were played on KUKQ back in the day. Mega is almost like the rebirth of KUKQ from back in the day. KYOT is trying to include SOME of that. Debbie Deb was played much on KUKQ along with acts like Trinere. I heard KYOT play Trinere also..they are dabbling into Mega territory. I was supprised that they played Maxwell and still play new hits from Joghn Legend every now & then. I really wish they would have a good balance of old school & new school R&B though.

 

[DJ_Perry]

Debbie Deb & a few freestyle hits were played on KUKQ back in the day.

Yes but KUKQ didn't target Adults the way that KYOT does. Granted Adults today grew up with that, but it just seems out of place when they still include Sade and the softer ballads. I wouldn't say 95.5 sounds anything like 1060, as you won't hear Oran Juice Jones, Gwen Guthrie or Newcleus on KYOT. Instead you'll hear Wham, Christina Aguilera, and Fergie mixed in with Marvin, New Edition, and Spinners.

 

[XMportable]

This is how an urban AC might work regardless of demos:


- "Urban AC has increased its share of listening every year since Spring 2005, and in Fall 2010 reached a new all-time high - 74% above the nearest format alternative."

 

[Jay F]

This is how an urban AC might work regardless of demos:


- "Urban AC has increased its share of listening every year since Spring 2005, and in Fall 2010 reached a new all-time high - 74% above the nearest format alternative."

KYOT's approach is the only way an Urban AC would work in the Western U.S.

 

[EricStein]

KYOT reminds me of KOAS/Las Vegas. They are a former smooth jazz station that switched to rhythmic oldies a year and a half ago. They also play lot's of slow songs, slower than you would hear on the typical AC these days. They have had consistent ratings and better demos than they did as a smooth jazz.

That's funny. I was in Vegas earlier this week and I heard some odd selections on KOAS that I wouldn't consider "AC," such as Notorious B.I.G.'s "Hypnotise" and the version of Bobby Brown's "Every Little Step" which included the rap (KYOT's playing the rap-free album version, while Mega spins the mix which has the rap). As for "Hypnotise," this would be the equivalent of a mainstream AC playing Guns 'N Roses' "Sweet Child of Mine."

Sometimes, format descriptions can be deceiving.

 

[Jay F]

KYOT reminds me of KOAS/Las Vegas. They are a former smooth jazz station that switched to rhythmic oldies a year and a half ago. They also play lot's of slow songs, slower than you would hear on the typical AC these days. They have had consistent ratings and better demos than they did as a smooth jazz.

That's funny. I was in Vegas earlier this week and I heard some odd selections on KOAS that I wouldn't consider "AC," such as Notorious B.I.G.'s "Hypnotise" and the version of Bobby Brown's "Every Little Step" which included the rap (KYOT's playing the rap-free album version, while Mega spins the mix which has the rap). As for "Hypnotise," this would be the equivalent of a mainstream AC playing Guns 'N Roses' "Sweet Child of Mine."

Sometimes, format descriptions can be deceiving.

Yes KOAS plays everything from Major Harris-Love Won't Let Me Wait to Rob Base-It Takes Two. This variety has worked, they have had staying power too (unlike the old Jammin' oldies stations that would have two good books and then fall off the face of the earth). It will be interesting to see if KYOT shows a similar pattern, even with a direct competitor in the market.